Medicare Supplements, often called Medigap, help you cover the gaps in your medical insurance coverage left by Original Medicare. This coverage is available through private insurance companies.
Since Original Medicare does not pay for all of the costs, even on covered supplies and services, Medicare Supplements cover some remaining costs, such as:
- Coinsurance
- Deductibles
- Copayments
If your Medicare coverage is new, it will not cover Part B deductible amounts. Contact us for more information about how to have complete coverage.
Services Not Covered by Original Medicare
Many Medicare Supplements cover medical services that Original Medicare does not cover. For example, look into this type of gap coverage if you travel outside the country.
How it Works
First, Medicare pays its share of your Medicare-Approved covered health care costs.
After that, the Medigap insurance company should pay more.
- Medicare Part A and B are requirements before you can add gap insurance because a Medicare Supplement policy supplements your Original Medicare benefits.
- You pay your monthly premium for the gap policy directly to the private insurance company on top of the amount you pay Medicare.
- Remember, your Medigap policy provides coverage only to one person, so you and your spouse need to purchase individual policies separately.
- Standardized Medigap policies are guaranteed renewable, even when you have health conditions.
- A Medigap policy is not available if you have Medicare Advantage. It only applies when you have Original Medicare.
Your gap policy still will not cover everything. Contact us for details on coverage.
Many policies will not include coverage for:
- Non-skilled nursing facility care and other types of long-term care
- Vision, dental, and hearing services
- Private-duty nurses
The point of carrying a Medicare Supplement plan is for additional reimbursements of your direct out-of-pocket medical costs. Gap coverage pays for additional costs the Medicare does not. You have choices for the level of Supplement coverage you prefer to carry.
You could be left with substantial expenses after Medicare pays its portion of your health care costs. This is especially true for extensive treatments or long-term hospitalizations. So, contact us for additional information about Medicare Supplement plans.